Margo Christian-Brooks is a seasoned expert in grant writing, nonprofit management, and small business

development with over 30 years of experience. She has secured more than $150 million in funding from

federal, state, local, and foundation sources for nonprofits across the U.S., enabling them to build

sustainable, impactful programs. Her broad expertise spans organizational development, strategic planning,

capital campaigns, planned giving, and event planning.

Beginning her career as a development specialist at Appalachia Educational Laboratory (now Edvantia) in

Charleston, WV, Margo has held senior program management positions in diverse regions, including

Chicago, IL; Las Vegas, NV; the Mississippi Delta; and McComb, MS. She was also chosen to join a U.S. State

Department training team for the Southern African Community Development Council, working with leaders

from 13 countries in Southern Africa.

Margo has trained over 1,000 individuals in grant writing, capacity building, strategic planning, and board

development. A sought-after expert, she has presented at joint conferences by HRSA, CDC, and SAMHSA,

and served as an HRSA peer reviewer. In Chicago, alongside her nonprofit work, she contributed to the

writing department at Harpo Studios on the series *Brewster Place*, collaborated with film crews on various

productions, and served as an event planner with Paramount Productions.

Additionally, Margo brings significant expertise in small business development, helping companies achieve

8(a) Certification and Disadvantaged/Women Business Enterprise (D/WBE) status.

**Areas of Expertise:**

Grant Writing | Federal Grant Writing | Strategic Planning | Board Development | Human Resource

Management | Federal Grant Management

Day One Modules
Grant Writing and Funding Success Curriculum
1. How to Read a Federal RFP
- Understand the structure and requirements of federal Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
- Identify key sections and requirements for a compliant proposal submission
2. Basic Elements of a Proposal Response
- Learn the essential components of a strong proposal response
- Discuss key elements, including problem statements, objectives, methodology, and evaluation
3. Research, Research, Research
- Explore the role of thorough research in crafting competitive proposals
- Learn strategies to gather data, validate assumptions, and strengthen the proposal’s credibility
4. Developing the Work Plan
- Create an effective work plan to guide project execution and monitor progress
- Focus on timelines, milestones, responsibilities, and deliverables
5. Identifying Funding Sources
- Learn techniques to identify and evaluate potential funding sources
- Understand how to match sources with project goals and organizational needs
6. Researching Potential Funding Opportunities
- Conduct targeted research on potential funders aligned with your project’s mission
- Understand how to assess funder priorities, eligibility, and funding cycles
7. Tools and Resources for Finding Grants (Databases, Websites, etc.)
- Discover popular grant databases and websites for finding funding opportunities
- Learn how to navigate and maximize the use of grant-search tools
8. Matching Grants to Your Project or Organization’s Mission
- Align funding opportunities with your organization’s mission and goals
- Develop a method for evaluating the “fit” of various funding opportunities
9. Understanding the Funder’s Perspective
- Gain insight into funder motivations, expectations, and decision-making processes
- Identify factors funders consider important in the evaluation of proposals
10. What Funders Are Looking For*
- Review funder expectations for well-organized and impactful proposals
- Understand funder preferences in structure, language, and presentation
11. Common Mistakes and Misconceptions about Funding
- Identify frequent errors and misunderstandings in the grant-seeking process
- Learn strategies to avoid these pitfalls and improve funding success rates
Grant Budget Development Curriculum
1. Budget Development Essentials
- Gain an understanding of the purpose and importance of a well-crafted budget in grant proposals
- Learn how to structure and present budget information to align with funder expectations
2. Preparing a Detailed and Realistic Project Budget
- Step-by-step guidance on building a complete and accurate project budget
- Explore methods for estimating costs, ensuring transparency, and avoiding under- or over-budgeting
3. Explaining Each Budget Item and Justifying Expenses
- Understand the importance of detailed budget narratives to clarify how funds will be used
- Learn to articulate and justify each budget item to show the necessity and impact of expenses
4. Understanding Allowable Costs
- Identify and differentiate allowable vs. non-allowable costs in grant budgeting
- Review funder guidelines on permissible expenses to ensure compliance and avoid disallowed costs
Skill Application Exercise

Day Two
Review Skill Application Exercise
Grant Budgeting and Proposal Development Curriculum
1. Understanding Indirect Cost Rates and How to Apply Them
- Learn what indirect costs are and how to calculate and apply indirect cost rates to your budget
- Understand funder requirements for indirect costs and their role in a grant proposal
2. Writing the Budget Narrative
- Develop the skill to write a clear, concise budget narrative that aligns with your budget items
- Understand how to present your financial plan effectively to funders
3. Explaining Your Budget Line Items
- Gain the ability to break down each budget line item, providing details and explanations for clarity
- Learn how to justify the need for each expense in your proposal
4. Justifying Costs in Relation to the Project Goals
- Understand how to link your budget items to the project’s goals and objectives
- Develop strategies to demonstrate that every cost contributes directly to project success
5. Avoiding Common Budget Mistakes
- Identify common budget errors, such as miscalculations, misclassification, and non-allowable expenses
- Learn best practices for preventing these issues and ensuring budget accuracy
6. Typical Budgeting Errors and How to Avoid Them
- Recognize budgeting pitfalls such as unrealistic estimates, missing cost categories, and lack of detail
- Explore practical steps to avoid these errors and create a robust, realistic budget
7. Developing Your Grant Proposal Concept
- Gain insights into defining and refining the core concept of your grant proposal
- Understand how to tailor the proposal concept to align with funder priorities
8. Defining Project Goals and Objectives
- Learn to define clear, measurable, and achievable project goals and objectives
- Understand the relationship between goals, objectives, and desired outcomes
9. Formulating Outcomes
- Develop the ability to identify and define expected outcomes for your project
- Learn how to measure success and demonstrate the impact of your project to funders
10. Creating a Work Plan and Timeline for Grant Development
- Create an actionable work plan that outlines key tasks, milestones, and deadlines for proposal
development
- Learn how to develop a realistic timeline for completing and submitting a winning grant proposal
Team Skill Exercise

Day Three
Grant Proposal Writing and Evaluation Design Curriculum
1. The Evaluation Design
- Understand the role and importance of evaluation in grant proposals
- Learn how to design a comprehensive evaluation plan to measure project success
- Explore methodologies for assessing outcomes and impact effectively
2. Needs Assessment or Problem Statement
- Learn how to conduct a thorough needs assessment to identify and articulate the problem your project
will address
- Develop the ability to write a compelling problem statement that clearly defines the issue and its
significance to the target population
- Understand how to support the needs assessment with data and evidence to strengthen your proposal
3. Writing Process and Style
- Master the grant writing process, from research and outline to final draft
- Learn techniques for writing clearly and persuasively, ensuring that your proposal is both informative and
engaging
- Understand the importance of tone, language, and clarity in aligning with funder expectations
4. Importance of Peer Review
- Recognize the value of peer review in enhancing the quality and accuracy of your proposal
- Learn how to incorporate feedback effectively to strengthen your submission
- Develop strategies for selecting appropriate reviewers and utilizing their input
5. Writing the Project Abstract / Overview
- Gain skills in crafting a concise, impactful project abstract that summarizes the proposal’s key elements
- Understand the critical role of the abstract in engaging funders and conveying the project’s value
- Learn how to highlight the project's goals, methodology, and expected outcomes in a compelling way
6. Submission Process
- Explore the step-by-step process for submitting a grant proposal, including formatting requirements and
deadlines
- Learn about the different submission platforms and how to ensure your proposal meets all technical and
compliance standards
- Understand the importance of submitting on time and confirming receipt of your proposal
7. Q & A Session
- Open forum for participants to ask questions about specific aspects of grant writing and submission
- Provide clarification and guidance on any challenges or uncertainties participants may encounter during
the process.